AVON PARK — An Avon Park New Year's Eve party reportedly erupted into violence early Tuesday morning between an Avon Park family, two others and police officers responding to a complaint, leading to the arrest of five people. Richard Mendez, 47, of Avon Park, was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. He was later charged with corruption by threat against a law enforcement officer. ...more

January 3, 2008

A state panel voted unanimously not to keep embattled medical examiner Charles Siebert on the job Saturday, saying he hadn't complied with an order to have an independent review of his work. ...more

December 30, 2007

For nearly a decade Kevin Doll has been speaking on behalf of Pasco County sheriffs. But he was silenced - perhaps only temporarily - as an agency spokesman when he was ordered to appear in court in a domestic battery case. ...more

December 11, 2007

Jessica Sierra blamed four or five vodkas and an empty stomach. Before her weekend tear in Ybor City was over, Tampa police said, Sierra fought police trying to keep her out of a club, scrapped with a friend on the street outside, vomited in a patrol car then vomited again, threatened action by the mayor, kicked one officer and propositioned another, and, still combative, ended up in isolation at Orient Road Jail. ...more

December 4, 2007

Bucs RT Jeremy Trueblood expected to spend money shopping this holiday season, but he did not anticipate losing $15,000 before Black Friday. ...more

November 13, 2007

SEBRING –– Friendly rivalries are healthy in the sports arena, but when the boundaries of good sportsmanship are crossed, anything can happen. What should have been Amanda Grimaldo's coming-out party turned ugly on Thursday, as a game-halting melee ensued in the 70th minute of Sebring's 5-0 win over Avon Park in a Class 4A-District 10 showdown at Firemen's Field. With the Blue Streaks up by four goals, an Avon Park and Sebring player got tangled up after going for the ball late in the match. One shove led to another, and after a punch to the jaw, the fight ensued. Both teams had players run on the field, as cheers from both sides could be heard over the commotion. "That is the last thing we need in a soccer match," Sebring goalie Becca Secory said. "I wasn't sure what had happened at first, but when I realized there was a fight, I tried to calm our bench down." ...more

November 10, 2007

A routine inmate transport to court turned deadly in six minutes Wednesday after a convicted robber handcuffed in a medical transportation van stole a 76-year-old Broward County deputy's gun and then fatally shot him, officials said. ...more

November 8, 2007

The son of News Channel 8 anchor Bob Hite was arrested Thursday after choking his live-in girlfriend, officials said. ...more

November 7, 2007

APOLLO BEACH - The son of News Channel 8 anchor Bob Hite was arrested Thursday after choking his live-in girlfriend, officials said. ...more

November 6, 2007

It has been two years since Bucs coach Jon Gruden was able to go into a bye week and not worry about who his quarterback would be. ...more

November 6, 2007